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Max Fisher

Maybe Iron Dome is bad for Israel

Here’s the case:

Obviously, any weapons system that reduces civilian Israeli fatalities is a good thing. Let’s get that out of the way first and foremost: we are right to hail this marvelous new technology. But ideally, the Iron Dome would allow Israeli civilian leaders the space to make hard choices about what, exactly, they are to do with Gaza. I had the same hope for the Wall/Fence in the West Bank. Leaving aside for a moment the tricky issue of where the Wall/Fence was constructed, it nonetheless effected a stunning drop in suicide attacks in Israel proper. This, again, is a good thing. But instead of giving Israeli civilian leaders the space to make hard decisions about what to do in the West Bank, the Wall/Fence instead allowed most Israelis to forget about the West Bank and the Palestinians altogether. The Palestinians, out of sight, drifted out of mind as well.

But the problem of what to do with the people and the land Israel conquered in 1967 isn’t going away. In the near term, I very much hope Israel is able to stop the rocket attacks from Gaza. But in the long term, I hope the solution to Gaza will not be to simply build bigger and better walls — both on the ground and in the sky — while continuing to put off hard political decisions.

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But the problem of what to do with the people and the land Israel conquered in 1967 isn’t going away. In the near term, I very much hope Israel is able to stop the rocket attacks from Gaza. But in the long term, I hope the solution to Gaza will not be to simply build bigger and better walls — both on the ground and in the sky — while continuing to put off hard political decisions.

Israel isn’t going to be able to solve the Palestinian problem as long as the “international community” backs the Palestinians with arms, money, and moral support. Any attempt by Israel to resolve the issue will just result in them being turned into the next South Africa. A diplomatic solution is likewise impossible has been proven as the Palestinians have broken truce after truce.

Therefore the construction of tighter and tighter defenses is the only real workable solution right now.

Back in mid-June, during the great Paris weapons show, the Rafael pavilion was absolutely the busiest around, and everybody wanted to look at the new, exciting, Iron Dome system, the greatest achievement in rocket defense ever. But by the end of the show, Rafael hadn’t made a single sale. The Arrow sold well, other systems did great – Iron Dome wasn’t moving. So they contacted their big clients, the serious ones, and asked what gives. And those clients told them no one except Israel has any use for these things. Because in any normal, sane country, if some hooligans were to start targeting civilians with rockets – the army would go and kill them.

But instead of giving Israeli civilian leaders the space to make hard decisions about what to do in the West Bank, the Wall/Fence instead allowed most Israelis to forget about the West Bank and the Palestinians altogether. The Palestinians, out of sight, drifted out of mind as well.

But the problem of what to do with the people and the land Israel conquered in 1967 isn’t going away. In the near term, I very much hope Israel is able to stop the rocket attacks from Gaza. But in the long term, I hope the solution to Gaza will not be to simply build bigger and better walls — both on the ground and in the sky — while continuing to put off hard political decisions.

The PA was given its sovereignty completely.

Why is the problem of “what to do with the people” of the PA Isreal’s problem?

But in the long term, I hope the solution to Gaza will not be to simply build bigger and better walls — both on the ground and in the sky — while continuing to put off hard political decisions.

Hate to ask but, what exactly are those hard political decisions? “Do we allow ourselves to be annihilated, or not?” The Palestinians held free and fair elections and elected a terrorist group to power. Their goal is the wholesale destruction of Israel and they will not accept anything less than that. Israel, for its part, can’t invade the Palestinian territories and exile all the Palestinians. So, painful though it may be, building a giant wall is probably the best play–yes?

How about Israel builds a sci-fi like force field around itself and closes its borders and doesn’t talk to the rest of the world for 1000 years. That seems more likely to come to reality then the supposed peace process we have been hearing about for decades.

Why is the problem of “what to do with the people” of the PA Isreal’s problem?

blink on November 21, 2012 at 5:10 PM

That’s what I thought. This is more of a country attacking another in my mind. Israel has every right to defend themselves and attack if they feel it warranted. It’s not like the Palestinians are a sub-state of Israel.

His argument, that Iron Dome puts off hard choices Israel needs to make, is worthless unless he explains what they are and which way they should be made. Does he explain what hard choices Israel is putting off to arrive at “the solution” to their problem of Gaza (and not the West Bank I presume)?

Do I really want to read this post by Fisher? I’m really tired of hitting the links to media organizations I’d rather see tossed on the ash heap of history.

How about Israel builds a sci-fi like force field around itself and closes its borders and doesn’t talk to the rest of the world for 1000 years. That seems more likely to come to reality then the supposed peace process we have been hearing about for decades.

Resolute on November 21, 2012 at 6:05 PM

I wish we’d tried that post-9/11.

IMHO the writing was already on the wall for a lot of things even right after the Towers were smoking.